Our vision

Our vision is laid out in our new strategy document creating tomorrow's healthcare today. It explains how we want to be the most clinically and financially successful integrated health care provider in our part of the region. We work to a number of nationally and locally set targets - including our own QPS (Quality, People and Sustainability) framework to ensure that you receive the care you need when you need it, and to the highest national quality and safety standards. We also provide those services within a strict financial budget which we are responsible for delivering.

Our board

Overall responsibility for delivering our services rests with the trust board who are accountable for day to day operational performance as well as setting and delivering strategy and policy for the trust. Trust board is made up of a group of executive directors and non-executive directors.

Being an NHS Foundation Trust

NHS foundation trusts were created to devolve decision making from central government to local organisations and communities. Trusts who are seen as being able to properly manage their services and finances can apply to become an NHS foundation trust. We became an NHS foundation trust in December 2008.

We still provide and develop healthcare according to core NHS principles - free care, based on need and not ability to pay but are not directed by Government so have greater freedom to decide, with our governors and members, our own strategy and the way services are run.

Our council of governors

As an NHS Foundation Trust we have a council of governors who act as the voice of the local community. They are made up of public, staff and partner governors - the majority of whom are elected by the 10,000 local people who have joined the trust as public members from the areas we serve in Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes and the surrounding areas. The governors hold the trust board to account on behalf of local people.

Strategy

Each year we produce an annual plan that sets out our targets and priorities for the current year and the years ahead. The plan includes how we will meet local and national targets and the developments that we want to put in place. The plan is developed and agreed by both the trust board and the council of governors. Comments and views are sought from our members and the public through an annual survey.

• You can view our annual plan in the our publications and reports section of the website.

NHS foundation trusts are regulated by an organisation called Monitor - the independent regulator of foundation trusts. Monitor ensure that we are meeting the targets - both clinical and financial - that we set and that are set nationally. They can take action if we are found not to be meeting those targets and standards.

One of Monitor's key roles is ensuring that foundation trusts are financially viable so that their long term future is secure in line with their annual plan.

We are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - the watchdog for healthcare services. The CQC monitor clinical and quality and safety standards in hospitals and carry out inspections to ensure that we are meeting national standards.

• You can read reports from our regulators amongst the quality and safety information in our transparency section here.

Each of our monthly public board meetings includes a detailed financial dashboard and summary. The papers from each meeting are published directly after the meeting.

• You can view our board papers here

Our annual reports contain our full financial performance and full accounts from the previous financial year.

• You can view our annual reports here